Inbred corn line G06-NP2744

ABSTRACT

Broadly this invention provides an invention which is an inbred corn line G06-NP2744. The methods for producing a corn plant by crossing the inbred line G06-NP2744 are also encompassed by the invention. Additionally, the invention relates to the various parts of inbred G06-NP2744 including culturable cells. This invention relates to hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line G06-NP2744 with at least one other corn line.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of corn breeding, specifically relating to an inbred corn line designated G06-NP2744. This invention also is in the field of hybrid maize production employing the present inbred.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The original maize plant was indigenous to the Western Hemisphere. The plants were weed-like and only through the efforts of early breeders were cultivated crop species developed. The crop cultivated by early breeders, like the crop today, could be wind pollinated. The physical traits of maize are such that wind pollination results in self-pollination or cross-pollination between plants. Each maize plant has a separate male and female flower that contributes to pollination, the tassel and ear, respectively. Natural pollination occurs when wind transfers pollen from tassel to the silks on the corn ears. This type of pollination has contributed to the wide variation of maize varieties present in the Western Hemisphere.

The development of a planned breeding program for maize only occurred in the last century. A large part of the development of the maize product into a profitable agricultural crop was due to the work done by land grant colleges. Originally, maize was an open pollinated variety having heterogeneous genotypes. The maize farmer selected uniform ears from the yield of these genotypes and preserved them for planting the next season. The result was a field of maize plants that were segregating for a variety of traits. This type of maize selection led to, at most, incremental increases in seed yield.

Large increases in seed yield were due to the work done by land grant colleges that resulted in the development of numerous hybrid corn varieties in planned breeding programs. Hybrids were developed from inbreds which were developed by selecting corn lines and selfing these lines for several generations to develop homozygous pure inbred lines. One selected inbred line was emasculated and another selected inbred line pollinated the emasculated inbred to produce hybrid seed F1 on the emasculated inbred line. Emasculation of the inbred usually is done by detasseling the seed parent; however, emasculation can be done in a number of ways. For example an inbred could have a male sterility factor which would eliminate the need to detassel the inbred.

In the early seventies the hybrid corn industry attempted to introduce CMS (cytoplasmic male sterility) into a number of inbred lines. Unfortunately, the CMS inbreds also introduced some very poor agronomic performance traits into the hybrid seed which caused farmers concern causing the maize industry to shy away from CMS material for a couple of decades thereafter.

However, in the last 10-15 years a number of different male sterility systems for maize have been successfully deployed. The most traditionally of these male sterility and/or CMS systems for maize parallel the CMS type systems that have been routinely used in hybrid production in sunflower.

In the standard CMS system there are three different maize lines required to make the hybrid. First, there is a cytoplasmic male-sterile line usually carrying the CMS or some other form of male sterility. This line will be the seed producing parent line. Second, there must be a fertile inbred line that is the same or isogenic with the seed producing inbred parent but lacking the trait of male sterility. This is a maintainer line needed to make new inbred seed of the seed producing male sterile parent. Third there is a different inbred which is fertile, has normal cytoplasm and carries a fertility restoring gene. This line is called the restorer line in the CMS system. The CMS cytoplasm is inherited from the maternal parent (or the seed producing plant), therefore for the hybrid seed produced on such plant to be fertile the pollen used to fertilize this plant must carry the restorer gene. The positive aspect of this is that it allows hybrid seed to be produced without the need for detasseling the seed parent. However, this system does require breeding of all three types of lines: 1) male sterile—to carry the CMS: 2) the maintainer line; and, 3) the line carrying the fertility restorer gene.

In some instances, sterile hybrids are produced and the pollen necessary for the formation of grain on these hybrids is supplied by interplanting of fertile inbreds in the field with the sterile hybrids.

Whether the seed producing plant is emasculated by detasseling or by CMS or by transgenes, the seed produced by crossing two inbreds in this manner is hybrid seed. This hybrid seed is F1 hybrid seed. The grain produced by a plant grown from a F1 hybrid seed is referred to as F2 or grain. Although, all F1 seed and plants, produced by this hybrid seed production system using the same two inbreds should be substantially the same, all F2 grain produced from the F1 plant will be segregating maize material.

The hybrid seed production produces hybrid seed which is heterozygous. The heterozygosis results in hybrid plants, which are robust and vigorous plants. Inbreds on the other hand are mostly homozygous. This homozygosity renders the inbred lines less vigorous. Inbred seed can be difficult to produce since the inbreeding process in corn lines decreases the vigor. However, when two inbred lines are crossed, the hybrid plant evidences greatly increased vigor and seed yield compared to open pollinated, segregating maize plants. An important consequence of the homozygosity and the homogenity of the inbred maize lines is that all hybrid seed produced from any cross of two such elite lines will be the same hybrid seed and make the same hybrid plant. Thus the use of inbreds makes hybrid seed which can be reproduced readily.

The ultimate objective of the commercial maize seed companies is to produce high yielding, agronomically sound plants that perform well in certain regions or areas of the Corn Belt. To produce these types of hybrids, the companies must develop inbreds, which carry needed traits into the hybrid combination. Hybrids are not often uniformly adapted for the entire Corn Belt, but most often are specifically adapted for regions of the Corn Belt. Northern regions of the Corn Belt require shorter season hybrids than do southern regions of the Corn Belt. Hybrids that grow well in Colorado and Nebraska soils may not flourish in richer Illinois and Iowa soil. Thus, a variety of major agronomic traits is important in hybrid combination for the various Corn Belt regions, and has an impact on hybrid performance.

Inbred line development and hybrid testing have been emphasized in the past half-century in commercial maize production as a means to increase hybrid performance. Inbred development is usually done by pedigree selection. Pedigree selection can be selection in an F₂ population produced from a planned cross of two genotypes (often elite inbred lines), or selection of progeny of synthetic varieties, open pollinated, composite, or backcrossed populations. This type of selection is effective for highly inheritable traits, but other traits, for example, yield requires replicated test crosses at a variety of stages for accurate selection.

Maize breeders select for a variety of traits in inbreds that impact hybrid performance along with selecting for acceptable parental traits. Such traits include: yield potential in hybrid combination; dry down; maturity; grain moisture at harvest; greensnap; resistance to root lodging; resistance to stalk lodging; grain quality; disease and insect resistance; ear and plant height. Additionally, Hybrid performance will differ in different soil types such as low levels of organic matter, clay, sand, black, high pH, low pH; or in different environments such as wet environments, drought environments, and no tillage conditions. These traits appear to be governed by a complex genetic system that makes selection and breeding of an inbred line extremely difficult. Even if an inbred in hybrid combination has excellent yield (a desired characteristic), it may not be useful because it fails to have acceptable parental traits such as seed yield, seed size, pollen production, good silks, plant height, etc.

To illustrate the difficulty of breeding and developing inbred lines, the following example is given. Two inbreds compared for similarity of 29 traits differed significantly for 18 traits between the two lines. If 18 simply inherited single gene traits were polymorphic with gene frequencies of 0.5 in the parental lines, and assuming independent segregation (as would essentially be the case if each trait resided on a different chromosome arm), then the specific combination of these traits as embodied in an inbred would only be expected to become fixed at a rate of one in 262,144 possible homozygous genetic combinations. Selection of the specific inbred combination is also influenced by the specific selection environment on many of these 18 traits which makes the probability of obtaining this one inbred even more remote. In addition, most traits in the corn genome are regrettably not single dominant genes but are multi-genetic with additive gene action not dominant gene action. Thus, the general procedure of producing a non segregating F₁ generation and self pollinating to produce a F₂ generation that segregates for traits and selecting progeny with the visual traits desired does not easily lead to a useful inbred.

Great care and breeder expertise must be used in selection of breeding material to continue to increase yield and the agronomics of inbreds and resultant commercial hybrids.

Certain regions of the Corn Belt have specific difficulties that other regions may not have. Thus the hybrids developed from the inbreds have to have traits that overcome or at least minimize these regional growing problems. Examples of these problems include in the eastern corn belt Gray Leaf Spot, in the north cool temperatures during seedling emergence, in the Nebraska region CLN (corn Lethal necrosis and in the west soil that has excessively high pH levels. The industry often targets inbreds that address these issues specifically forming niche products. However, the aim of most large seed producers is to provide a number of traits to each inbred so that the corresponding hybrid can useful in a broader regions of the Corn Belt. The new biotechnology techniques such as Microsatellites, RFLPs, RAPDs and the like have provided breeders with additional tools to accomplish these goals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an inbred corn line G06-NP2744. Specifically, this invention relates to plants and seeds of this line. Additionally, this relates to a method of producing from this inbred, hybrid seed corn and hybrid plants with seeds from such hybrid seed. More particularly, this invention relates to the unique combination of traits that combine in corn line G06-NP2744.

Generally then, broadly the present invention includes an inbred corn seed designated G06-NP2744. This seed produces a corn plant.

The invention also includes the tissue culture of regenerable cells of G06-NP2744 wherein the cells of the tissue culture regenerates plants capable of expressing the genotype of G06-NP2744. The tissue culture is selected from the group consisting of leaf, pollen, embryo, root, root tip, guard cell, ovule, seed, anther, silk, flower, kernel, ear, cob, husk and stalk, cell and protoplast thereof. The corn plant regenerated from G06-NP2744 or any part thereof is included in the present invention. The present invention includes regenerated corn plants that are capable of expressing G06-NP2744's genotype, phenotype or mutants or variants thereof.

The invention extends to hybrid seed produced by planting, in pollinating proximity which includes using preserved maize pollen as explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,838 to Greaves, seeds of corn inbred lines G06-NP2744 and another inbred line if preserved pollen is not used; cultivating corn plants resulting from said planting; preventing pollen production by the plants of one of the inbred lines if two are employed; allowing cross pollination to occur between said inbred lines; and harvesting seeds produced on plants of the selected inbred. The hybrid seed produced by hybrid combination of plants of inbred corn seed designated G06-NP2744 and plants of another inbred line are apart of the present invention. This inventions scope covers hybrid plants and the plant parts including the grain and pollen grown from this hybrid seed.

The invention further includes a method of hybrid F1 production. A first generation (F1) hybrid corn plant produced by the process of planting seeds of corn inbred line G06-NP2744; cultivating corn plants resulting from said planting; permitting pollen from another inbred line to cross pollinate inbred line G06-NP2744; harvesting seeds produced on plants of the inbred; and growing a harvested seed are part of the method of this invention.

The present invention also encompasses a method of introducing at least one targeted trait into maize inbred line comprising the steps of: (A) crossing plant grown from the present invention seed which is the recurrent parent, representative seed of which has been deposited, with the donor plant of another maize line that comprises at least one target trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, amylose starch, and waxy starch to produce F1 plants; (b) selecting from the F1 plants that have at least one of the targeted trait, forming a pool of progeny plants with the targeted trait; (c) crossing the pool of progeny plants with the present invention which is the recurrent parent to produce backcrossed progeny plants with the targeted trait; (d) selecting for backcrossed progeny plants that have at least one of the target trait and physiological and morphological characteristics of maize inbred line of the recurrent parent, listed in Table 1 forming a pool of selected backcrossed progeny plants; and (e) crossing the selected backcrossed progeny plants to the recurrent parent and selecting from the resulting plants for the targeted trait and physiological and morphological characteristics of maize inbred line of the recurrent parent, listed in Table 1 and reselecting from the pool of resulting plants and repeating the crossing to the recurrent parent step and the selecting step in succession to form a plant that comprises the targeted trait and all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of maize inbred line of the recurrent parent if the present invention listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions.

This method and the following method of introducing traits can be done with less back crossing events if the trait and/or the genotype of the present invention are selected for or identified through the use of markers. SSR, microsatellites, SNP and the like decrease the amount of breeding time required to locate a line with the desired trait or traits and the characteristics of the present invention. Backcrossing in two or even three traits (for example the glyphosate, Europe corn borer, corn rootworm resistant genes) is routinely done with the use of marker assisted breeding techniques. This introduction of transgenes or mutations into a maize line is often called single gene conversion. Although, presently more than one gene particularly transgenes or mutations which are readily tracked with markers can be moved during the same “single gene conversion” process, resulting in a line with the addition of more targeted traits than just the one, but still having the characteristics of the present invention plus those characteristics added by the targeted traits.

The method of introducing a desired trait into maize inbred line comprising: (a) crossing plant grown from the present invention seed, representative seed of which has been deposited the recurrent parent, with plant of another maize line that comprises at least one target trait selected from the group consisting of nucleic acid encoding an enzyme selected from the group consisting of phytase, stearyl-ACP desaturase, fructosyltransferase, levansucrase, amylase, invertase and starch branching enzyme, the donor parent to produce F1 plants; (b) selecting for the targeted trait from the F1 plants, forming a pool of progeny plants; (c) crossing the progeny plants with the recurrent parent to produce backcrossed progeny plants; (d) selecting for backcrossed progeny plants that have at least one of the target trait and physiological and morphological characteristics of maize inbred line of the present invention a listed in Table 1 forming a pool of backcrossed progeny plants; and repeating a step of crossing the new pool with the recurrent parent and selecting for the targeted trait and the recurrent parents characteristics until the selected plant is essentially the recurrent parent with the targeted trait or targeted traits. This selection and crossing may take at least 4 backcrosses if marker assisted breeding is not employed.

The inbred line and seed of the present invention are employed to carry the agronomic package into the hybrid. Additionally, the inbred line is often carrying transgenes that are introduced in to the hybrid seed.

Likewise included is a first generation (F1) hybrid corn plant produced by the process of planting seeds of corn inbred line G06-NP2744; cultivating corn plants resulting from said planting; permitting pollen from inbred line G06-NP2744 to cross pollinate another inbred line; harvesting seeds produced on plants of the inbred; and growing a plant from such a harvested seed. The inbred line and seed of the present invention are employed to carry the agronomic package into the hybrid. Additionally, the inbred line is often carrying transgenes that are introduced in to the hybrid seed.

A number of different techniques exist which are designed to avoid detasseling in maize hybrid production. Some examples are switchable male sterility, lethal genes in the pollen or anther, inducible male sterility, male sterility genes with chemical restorers. There are numerous patented means of improving upon the hybrid production system. Some examples include U.S. Pat. No. 6,025,546, which relates to the use of tapetum-specific promoters and the barnase gene to produce male sterility; U.S. Pat. No. 6,627,799 relates to modifying stamen cells to provide male sterility. Therefore, one aspect of the current invention concerns the present invention comprising one or more gene(s) capable of restoring male fertility to male-sterile maize inbreds or hybrids and/or genes or traits to produce male sterility in maize inbreds or hybrids.

The inbred corn line G06-NP2744 and at least one transgenic gene adapted to give G06-NP2744 additional and/or altered phenotypic traits are within the scope of the invention. Such transgenes are usually associated with regulatory elements (promoters, enhancers, terminators and the like). Presently, transgenes provide the invention with traits such as insect resistance, herbicide resistance, disease resistance increased or deceased starch or sugars or oils, increased or decreased life cycle or other altered trait.

The present invention includes inbred corn line G06-NP2744 and at least one transgenic gene adapted to give G06-NP2744 modified starch traits. Furthermore this invention includes the inbred corn line G06-NP2744 and at least one mutant gene adapted to give modified starch, acid or oil traits, i.e. amylase, waxy, amylose extender or amylose. The present invention includes the inbred corn line G06-NP2744 and at least one transgenic gene: bacillus thuringiensis, the bar or pat gene encoding Phosphinothricin acetyl Transferase, Gdha gene, GOX, VIP, EPSP synthase gene, low phytic acid producing gene, and zein. The inbred corn line G06-NP2744 and at least one transgenic gene useful as a selectable marker or a screenable marker is covered by the present invention.

A tissue culture of the regenerable cells of hybrid plants produced with use of G06-NP2744 genetic material is covered by this invention. A tissue culture of the regenerable cells of the corn plant produced by the method described above is also included.

DEFINITIONS

In the description and examples, which follow, a number of terms are used. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the specifications and claims, including the scope to be given such terms, the following definitions are provided.

BL Moist

The moisture percentage of the grain at black layer, i.e., when 50% of the plants per plot have reached physiological maturity.

Cold Germ

Cold Germ is a measurement of seed germination under cold soil conditions. Data is reported as percent of seed germinating.

Color Traits

Anther color is yellow; if any other color is shown it is recorded as Other. Kernel Crown Color is white, yellow, orange; if any other color is shown then the color is indicated as Other. Glume Ring Color is listed as Red/Purple; if any other color is shown or if the ring color is inconsistent then Other/Absent is recorded. Brace Root Color is listed as Green, Reddish, Purplish; if any other color is shown or if the color is inconsistent then Other is recorded. ECB European corn borer is a maize eating insect. ECBI is the first brood generation of European corn borers. ECB II is the second generation of European corn borers. ECBI is a rating of leaf damage. The ECB II (ECB2) rating is based upon tunneling. For all Entomology ratings, the higher number is best (1=little or no resistance, 9=highly resistant). The scale is slightly different for Ear Rating, which is taken on a 1-4 basis. This is a rating of corn borer feeding on the ear. A 1 represents feeding over the entire ear, while a 4 represents no observable feeding on the ear. Emerge (EMG) The number of emerged plants per plot (planted at the same seedling rate) collected when plants have two fully developed leaves. GI This is a selection index that provides a single quantitative measure of the worth of a hybrid based on four traits. FI is a very similar index which weights yield less than GI. In GI yield is the primary trait contributing to index values. The GI value is calculated by combining stalk lodging, root lodging, yield and dropped ears according to the attached mathematical formula: GI=100+0.5(YLD)−0.9(% STALK LODGE)−0.9(% ROOT LODGE)−2.7(% DROPPED EAR) GLS Gray Leaf Spot (Cercospora Zeae) disease rating. This is rated on a 1-9 scale with a “1” being very susceptible, and a “9” being very resistant.* GW Gross' Wilt (Corynebacterium nebraskense). This is rated on a 1-9 scale with a “1” being very susceptible, and a “9” being very resistant.* HEATP10 The number of Growing Degree Units (GDU's) or heat units required for an inbred line or hybrid to have approximately 10 percent of the plants shedding pollen. This trait is measured from the time of planting. Growing Degree Units are calculated by the Barger Method where the GDU's for a 24 hour period are:

${GDU} = {\frac{\left( {{{Max}\mspace{14mu} T\; e\; m\; p\mspace{14mu}({{^\circ}F})} + {{Min}\mspace{14mu} T\; e\; m\; p\mspace{14mu}({{^\circ}F})}} \right)}{2} - 50}$ The highest maximum temperature used is 86° F. and the lowest minimum temperature used is 50° F. For each inbred or hybrid it takes a certain number of GDU's to reach various stages of plant development. HEATBL The number of GDU's after planting when approximately 50 percent of the inbred or hybrid plants in a plot have grain that has reached physiological maturity (black layer). HEATPEEK The number of GDU's after planting of an inbred when approximately 50 percent of the plants show visible tassel extension. HEATP50 or HTP50 The number of GDU's required for an inbred or hybrid to have approximately 50 percent of the plants shedding pollen. Growing Degree Units are calculated by the Barger Method as shown in the HEATP10 definition. HEATP90 The number of GDU's accumulated from planting when the last 100 percent of plants in an inbred or hybrid are still shedding enough viable pollen for pollination to occur. Growing Degree Units are calculated by the Barger Method as shown in the HEATP10 definition. HEATS10 The number of GDU's required for an inbred or hybrid to have approximately 10 percent of the plants with silk emergence of at least 0.5 inches. Growing Degree Units are calculated by the Barger Method as shown in the HEATP10 definition. HEATS50 or HTS50 The number of GDU's required for an inbred or hybrid to have approximately 50 percent of the plants with silk emergence of at least 0.5 inches. Growing Degree Units are calculated by the Barger Method as shown in the HEATP10 definition. HEATS90 The number of GDU's required for an inbred or hybrid to have approximately 90 percent of the plants with silk emergence of at least 0.5 inches. Growing Degree Units are calculated by the Barger Method as shown in the HEATP10 definition. MDMV_(A) Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus strain A. The corn is rated on a 1-9 scale with a “1” being very susceptible, and a “9” being very resistant.* MDMV_(B) Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus strain B. This is rated on a 1-9 scale with a “1” being very susceptible and a “9” being very resistant.* Moisture The average percentage grain moisture of an inbred or hybrid at harvest time. NLB Northern Leaf Blight (Exserohilum turcicum) disease rating. This is rated on a 1-9 scale with a “1” being very susceptible, and a “9” being very resistant.* PCT Tiller or Tiller Rating The total number of tillers per plot divided by the total number of plants per plot. Plant This term includes the entire plant and its plant cells, plant protoplasts made from its cells, plant cell tissue cultures from which corn plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, leaves, husks, stalks, roots, root tips, anthers, silk and the like, and this term also includes any mutated gene, transgenic DNA or (RNA) or portion thereof that have been introduced into the plant by whatever method. Plant Height (PLTHT) (PHT) The distance in centimeters from ground level to the base of the tassel peduncle. Plant Integrity (PLTINT) or (INT) The level of plant integrity on a scale of 1-9 with 9 evidencing the trait most strongly: 1-2.9 ratings are low plant integrity, 3-5.9 ratings are intermediate plant integrity, and 6-9 ratings are strongly evidencing plant integrity. Population (POP) The plant population. RM Predicted relative maturity based on the moisture percentage of the grain at harvest. This rating is based on known set of checks and utilizes standard linear regression analyses and is referred to as the Minnesota Relative Maturity Rating System. Shed The volume of pollen shed by the male flower rated on a 1-5 scale where a “1” is a very light pollen shedder, a “2.5” is a moderate shedder, and a “5” is a very heavy shedder. SLB Southern Leaf Blight (Bipolaris maydis) disease rating. This is rated on a 1-9 scale with a “1” being very susceptible, and a “9” being very resistant.* Staygreen (SGN) The level of staygreen of the plant on a scale of 1-9 with 9 evidencing the trait most strongly: 1-2.9 ratings are low staygreen, 3-5.9 ratings are intermediate staygreen, and 6-9 ratings are strongly evidencing staygreen. TWT The measure of the weight of grain in pounds for a one bushel volume adjusted for percent grain moisture. Vigor (VIG) Visual rating of 1 to 9 made 2-3 weeks post-emergence where a “1” indicates very poor early plant development, and a “9” indicates superior plant development. Warm Germ A measurement of seed germination under ideal (warm, moist) conditions. Data is reported as percent of seeds germinating. Yield (YLD) Actual yield of grain at harvest adjusted to 15.5% moisture. Measurements are reported in bushels per acre. % Dropped Ears (DE) The number of plants per plot, which dropped their primary ear, divided by the total number of plants per plot. % Root Lodge (RL) Percentage of plants per plot leaning more that 30 degrees from vertical divided by total plants per plot. % Stalk Lodge (SL) Percentage of plants per plot with the stalk broken below the primary ear node divided by the total plants per plot. % Cull Percentage of seed that passes through a 16/64 inch screen or will not pass through a 25/64 inch screen. *Resistant—on a scale of 1-9 with 9 evidencing the trait most strongly: 1-2.9 ratings are susceptible, 3-5.9 ratings are intermediate, and 6-9 ratings are resistant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

G06-NP2744 is an inbred that when crossed to another inbred produces the hybrid seed of NX351 and NF352YG1 which grows well in the Mid to Southern part of the Corn Belt.

The inbred has shown uniformity and stability within the limits of environmental influence for all the traits as described in the Variety Description Information (Table 1) that follows.

The inbred has been self-pollinated for a sufficient number of generations to give inbred uniformity. During plant selection in each generation, the uniformity of plant type was selected to ensure homozygosity and phenotypic stability. The line has been increased in isolated farmland environments with data on uniformity and agronomic traits being observed to assure uniformity and stability. No variant traits have been observed or are expected in G06-NP2744.

The best method of producing the invention, G06-NP2744 which is substantially homozygous, is by planting the seed of G06-NP2744 which is substantially homozygous and self-pollinating or sib pollinating the resultant plant in an isolated environment, and harvesting the resultant seed.

TABLE 1 G06-NP2744 VARIETY DESCRIPTION INFORMATION #1 Type: Dent #2 Region Best Adapted: Broadly adapted - #3 Plant Traits Plant Height 74 in. Ear Height 26 in. Tillers (Rating) 5 Leaf Color Green Brace Root Color Silk Color RED/PINK #4 Tassel Traits Glume Ring Color OTHER/ABSENT Anther Color OTHER #5 Ear and Kernel Traits Cob Color RED Kernel Crown Color YELLOW #6 Disease Resistance In Inbred * Gross' Wilt = 4.9 Northern Leaf Blight = 4.3 Southern Leaf Blight = 4.7 #7 Insect Resistance In Inbred ECB1 = 5.1 ECB2 = 4.8 Ear rate = 3.1 * rating based on a 9-1 scale with a nine rating indicating most resistance and 1 most susceptibility

The comparable inbred to G06-NP2744 is G3601. G3601 has a number of similarities to the present invention.

The data provided above is often a color. The Munsell code is a reference book of color, which is known and used in the industry and by persons with ordinary skill in the art of plant breeding. The purity and homozygosity of inbred G06-NP2744 is constantly being tracked using isozyme genotypes.

Inbred and Hybrid Performance of G06-NP2744

The traits and characteristics of inbred corn line G06-NP2744 are listed to compare with other inbreds and/or in hybrid combinations. The G06-NP2744 data shows the characteristics and traits of importance, giving a snapshot of G06-NP2744 in these specific environments.

Table 2 shows a comparison between G06-NP2744 and a comparable inbred G3601 shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,828,492. In a later Table that is a comparison with G1103 shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,984,779. In Table 2, G06-NP2744 has significantly less yield than G3601. The present invention does have significantly better moisture at harvest than the comparison inbred. The two inbreds show significant differences across all Heat unit measurement except Heatp10 and Heatp50 with the present invention beginning and completing silking and pollen shedding significantly later than G3601. The two inbreds do not differ significantly for ear and plant height.

TABLE 2 PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON DATA Year Inbred Yield Moisture Ear Height Plant Height Emerge Heat Peek Overall G06- 94.8 11.6 68.4 186.2 85.2 1388.1 NP2744 G3601 108.2 12.5 73.3 181.0 84.1 1397.0 # Expts 12.0 12.0 8.0 8.0 12.0 12.0 Diff 13.4 0.9 4.9 5.2 1.1 8.9 Prob 0.001*** 0.091* 0.2 0.3 0.7 0.1 % Lrg % Lrg Med Inbred Heatp10 Heatp50 Heatp90 Heats10 Heats50 Heats90 Med Flat Rnd G06- 1411.8 1447.0 1568.3 1442.3 1481.8 1479.5 18.2 39.7 NP2744 G3601 1419.0 1455.8 1607.5 1407.0 1444.7 1450.4 25.6 32.3 # Expts 12.0 12.0 8.0 12.0 12.0 8.0 12.0 12.0 Diff 7.2 8.8 39.2 35.3 37.2 29.1 7.4 7.4 Prob 0.2 0.2 0.007*** 0.002*** 0.004*** 0.020** 0.000*** 0.009*** % Sml % Lrg % Sml Med Med % Sml Cold Warm Inbred Plateless Flat Rnd Plateless % Cull Shed Germ Germ G06- 7.5 3.5 24.7 3.6 2.5 3.2 95.2 97.6 NP2744 G3601 10.0 6.0 18.5 4.0 3.4 2.8 93.0 97.5 # Expts 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 12.0 11.0 7.0 7.0 Diff 2.5 2.5 6.2 0.4 0.8 0.4 2.2 0.1 Prob 0.047** 0.000*** 0.007*** 0.4 0.008*** 0.1 0.4 0.9 *.05 < Prob <= .10 **.01 < Prob <= .05 ***.00 < Prob <= .01

TABLE 3 PAIRED HYBRID COMPARISON DATA AbbrCode Yld Moist TWT % SL % RL % DE Stand Sgreen Gsnap NX351*+ 205.6 19.0 57.3 4.2 7.1 0.0 62.0 13.1 0.0 8488IT 200.7 19.8 56.6 2.6 8.7 0.5 60.0 22.8 0.0 *NF351 = has the present invention as a inbred in the hybrid + = the hybrid has glyphosate resistance

Table 3 shows the inbred G06-NP2744 in hybrid combination, as NX351+, in comparison with another 8488IT hybrid, which has a similar heterotic group and is adapted for the same region of the Corn Belt. When in this hybrid combination, the present inbred G06-NP2744 carries more yield and less moisture at harvest in comparison to the other commercial hybrid. The test weight and for the commercial hybrid and the present invention is different, with the present invention being heavier. The two hybrids show significant differences in root and stalk lodging when grown together in this environment.

The present invention shows less root but more stalk lodging than hybrid 8488IT.

TABLE 4 PATHOLOGY COMPARISON INBREDS Northern Inbred Leaf Blight Gross' Wilt Southern Leaf Blight G1103 4.3 4.9 4.7 G06-NP2744 3.7 4.9 1.0

TABLE 5 ENTOMOLOGY COMPARISON INBREDS Inbred Entomology Data # # Ear # Inbred ECB1 Years ECB2 Years Rating Years G06- 5.1 1 4.8 1 3.1 1 NP2744 G1103 4.3 3 5.5 3 2.9 3

Table 4 shows the comparison of G06-NP2744 disease ratings when in the same location as G1103. The data for the present inbred are showing consistently lower rating results in comparison to the Southern and Northern Leaf Blight ratings for G1103. G06-NP2744 has equivalent Gross' Wilt rating.

Table 5 shows the European corn borer data for the present inbred invention and G1103. The present invention has a lower ECB2 rating than does G1103 but a higher rate for ECB1. The overall ear rating is on a scale of 1-4 with four being the least observable ear damage. The ear rating for the present invention was closer to four and thus a better rating than the compared inbred.

TABLE 6 Agronomic Traits NF352YG1 vs 8200YG1 Early YEAR # Stand Adv Emg Adv Vigor Adv S50 Adv P50 Adv 1 3 73.2 −15.9 5.2 −0.8 5.5 −0.3 67.0 −2.0 66.0 −2.0 3 89.1 6.0 5.8 69.0 68.0 overall 3 73.2 −15.9 5.2 −0.8 5.5 −0.3 67.0 −2.0 66.0 −2.0 3 89.1 6.0 5.8 69.0 68.0 NF352YG1 vs 8275YG1 Early YEAR # Stand Adv Emg Adv Vigor Adv S50 Adv P50 Adv 1 11 84.1 −3.4 6.2 0.5 6.7 0.6 67.0 0.0 66.0 −2.0 11 87.5 5.8 6.2 68.0 68.0 overall 11 84.1 −3.4 6.2 0.5 6.7 0.6 67.0 0.0 66.0 −2.0 11 87.5 5.8 6.2 68.0 68.0 NF352YG1 vs 8292YG1 Early YEAR # Stand Adv Emg Adv Vigor Adv S50 Adv P50 Adv 1 11 84.1 −1.6 6.2 0.3 6.7 0.7 67.0 0.0 66.0 0.0 11 85.7 5.9 6.0 67.0 66.0 overall 11 84.1 −1.6 6.2 0.3 6.7 0.7 67.0 0.0 66.0 0.0 11 85.7 5.9 6.0 67.0 66.0 NF352YG1 vs 8350YG1 Early YEAR # Stand Adv Emg Adv Vigor Adv S50 Adv P50 Adv 1 11 84.1 −5.0 6.2 1.1 6.7 1.8 67.0 −1.0 66.0 −1.0 11 89.1 5.2 4.9 68.0 67.0 overall 11 84.1 −5.0 6.2 1.1 6.7 1.8 67.0 −1.0 66.0 −1.0 11 89.1 5.2 4.9 68.0 67.0 NF352YG1 vs 8376YG1 Early YEAR # Stand Adv Emg Adv Vigor Adv S50 Adv P50 Adv 1 11 84.1 −6.9 6.2 −0.1 6.7 0.2 67.0 1.0 66.0 0.0 11 90.9 6.3 6.6 66.0 66.0 overall 11 84.1 −6.9 6.2 −0.1 6.7 0.2 67.0 1.0 66.0 0.0 11 90.9 6.3 6.6 66.0 66.0 NF352YG1 vs 8200YG1 Plant Stay Black Plant Ear Ht. Adv Ht. Adv Green Adv Layer Adv Int Adv 44.7 −6.2 101.4 0.4 3.8 −0.2 125.0 0.0 5.4 1.7 50.8 101.0 4.0 125.0 3.8 44.7 −6.2 101.4 0.4 3.8 −0.2 125.0 0.0 5.4 1.7 50.8 101.0 4.0 125.0 3.8 NF352YG1 vs 8275YG1 Plant Stay Black Plant # Adv Ht. Adv Green Adv Layer Adv Int Adv 44.7 1.2 101.4 2.1 3.8 −1.0 125.0 3.0 5.4 −2.0 43.5 99.3 5.0 122.0 7.0 44.7 1.2 101.4 2.1 3.8 −1.0 125.0 3.0 5.4 −2.0 43.5 99.3 5.0 122.0 7.0 NF352YG1 vs 8292YG1 Plant Stay Black Plant Ear Ht. Adv Ht. Adv Green Adv Layer Adv Int Adv 44.7 −2.2 101.4 2.9 3.8 −0.9 125.0 2.0 5.4 −0.8 46.8 98.5 4.8 123.0 6.3 44.7 −2.2 101.4 2.9 3.8 −0.9 125.0 2.0 5.4 −0.8 46.8 98.5 4.8 123.0 6.3 NF352YG1 vs 8350YG1 Plant Stay Black Plant Ear Ht. Adv Ht. Adv Green Adv Layer Adv Int Adv 44.7 −0.5 101.4 5.8 3.8 −2.0 125.0 2.0 5.4 −2.0 45.2 95.7 6.0 123.0 7.0 44.7 −0.5 101.4 5.8 3.8 −2.0 125.0 2.0 5.4 −2.0 45.2 95.7 6.0 123.0 7.0 NF352YG1 vs 8376YG1 Plant Stay Black Plant Ear Ht. Adv Ht. Adv Green Adv Layer Adv Int Adv 44.7 1.2 101.4 5.1 3.8 −0.2 125.0 6.0 5.4 0.7 43.5 96.3 4.0 119.0 4.8 44.7 1.2 101.4 5.1 3.8 −0.2 125.0 6.0 5.4 0.7 43.5 96.3 4.0 119.0 4.8 Lines marked with the advantage information have data from the present inbred in hybrid combination ADV = ADVANTAGE IT = Imidazolinone herbicide resistance

The data in Table 6 show the advantage or disadvantage associated with the agronomic traits of the present inbred when in hybrid combination when compared with a number of commercial hybrids. The interpretation of the data for most traits is that a positive comparison is a practical advantage. A negative comparison is a practical disadvantage. The last two lines of data show the combined data across all years. The present invention when in hybrid combination in the overall data shows a positive advantage for some traits and negative advantage for others. The foregoing is set forth by way of example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

This invention also is directed to methods for producing a corn plant by crossing a first parent corn plant with a second parent corn plant wherein the first or second parent corn plant is an inbred corn plant from the line G06-NP2744. Further, both first and second parent corn plants can come from the inbred corn line G06-NP2744 which produces a self of the inbred invention. The present invention can be employed in a variety of breeding methods which can be selected depending on the mode of reproduction, the trait, and the condition of the germplasm. Thus, any breeding methods using the inbred corn line G06-NP2744 are part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, hybrid production, and crosses to populations, and haploid by such old and known methods of using stock material that induces haploids and anther culturing and the like.

All plants and plant cells produced using inbred corn line G06-NP2744 are within the scope of this invention. The invention encompasses the inbred corn line used in crosses with other, different, corn inbreds to produce (F1) corn hybrid seeds and hybrid plants and the grain produced on the hybrid plant. This invention includes plant and plant cells, which upon growth and differentiation produce corn plants having the physiological and morphological characteristics of the inbred line G06-NP2744.

Additionally, this maize can, within the scope of the invention, contain: a mutant gene such as, but not limited to, the sugary 1 or shrunken 1 or waxy or AE or imazethapyr tolerant (IT or IR™) mutant gene; or transgenic genes such as but not limited to insect resistant genes such as Corn Rootworm gene, Bacillus thuringiensis (Cry genes), or herbicide resistant genes such as Pat gene or Bar gene, EPSP, or disease resistant genes such as the Mosaic virus resistant gene, etc., or trait altering genes such as flowering genes, oil modifying genes, senescence genes and the like. The methods and techniques for inserting, or producing and/or identifying a mutation or a transgene into the present invention through breeding, transformation, or mutating are well known and understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

Various techniques for breeding and moving or altering genetic material within or into the present invention (whether it is an inbred or in hybrid combination) are also known to those skilled in the art. These techniques to list only a few are anther culturing, haploid production, (stock six is a method that has been in use for thirty years and is well known to those with skill in the art), transformation, irradiation to produce mutations, chemical or biological mutation agents and a host of other methods are within the scope of the invention. All parts of the G06-NP2744 plant including its plant cells produced using the inbred corn line are within the scope of this invention. The term transgenic plant refers to plants having genetic sequences, which are introduced into the genome of a plant by a transformation method and the progeny thereof. Transformation methods are means for integrating new genetic coding sequences into the plant's genome by the incorporation of these sequences into a plant through man's assistance, but not by breeding practices. The transgene once introduced into plant material and integrated stably can be moved into other germplasm by standard breeding practices.

Though there are a large number of known methods to transform plants, certain types of plants are more amenable to transformation than are others. Transformation of dicots is usually achievable for example; tobacco is a readily transformable plant. Monocots can present some transformation challenges, however, the basic steps of transforming plants monocots have been known in the art for about 15 years. The most common method of maize transformation is referred to as gunning or microprojectile bombardment though other methods can be used. The process employs small gold-coated particles coated with DNA which are shot into the transformable material. Detailed techniques for gunning DNA into cells, tissue, callus, embryos, and the like are well known in the prior art. One example of steps that can be involved in monocot transformation are concisely outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,956 “Fertile Transgenic Zea mays Plants Comprising Heterologous DNA Encoding Bacillus Thuringiensis Endotoxin” issued Jan. 16, 1996 and also in U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,520 “Process of Producing Fertile Zea mays Plants and Progeny Comprising a Gene Encoding Phosphinothricin Acetyl Transferase” issued Feb. 6, 1996.

Plant cells such as maize can be transformed not only by the use of a gunning device but also by a number of different techniques. Some of these techniques include maize pollen transformation (See University of Toledo 1993 U.S. Pat. No. 5,177,010); Whiskers technology (See U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,464,765 and 5,302,523); electroporation; PEG on Maize; Agrobacterium (See 1996 article on transformation of maize cells in Nature Biotechnology, Volume 14, June 1996) along with numerous other methods which may have slightly lower efficiency rates. Some of these methods require specific types of cells and other methods can be practiced on any number of cell types.

The use of pollen, cotyledons, zygotic embryos, meristems and ovum as the target issue can eliminate the need for extensive tissue culture work. Generally, cells derived from meristematic tissue are useful. The method of transformation of meristematic cells of cereal is taught in the PCT application WO96/04392. Any number of various cell lines, tissues, calli and plant parts can and have been transformed by those having knowledge in the art. Methods of preparing callus or protoplasts from various plants are well known in the art and specific methods are detailed in patents and references used by those skilled in the art. Cultures can be initiated from most of the above-identified tissue. The only true requirement of the transforming plant material is that it can form a transformed plant.

The DNA used for transformation of these plants clearly may be circular, linear, and double or single stranded. Usually, the DNA is in the form of a plasmid. The plasmid usually contains regulatory and/or targeting sequences which assists the expression of the gene in the plant. The methods of forming plasmids for transformation are known in the art. Plasmid components can include such items as: leader sequences, transit polypeptides, promoters, terminators, genes, introns, marker genes, etc. The structures of the gene orientations can be sense, antisense, partial antisense or partial sense: multiple gene copies can be used. The transgenic gene can come from various non-plant genes (such as; bacteria, yeast, animals, and viruses) along with being from plants.

The regulatory promoters employed can be constitutive such as CaMv35S (usually for dicots) and polyubiquitin for monocots or tissue specific promoters such as CAB promoters, MR7 described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,848, etc. The prior art promoters, includes but is not limited to, octopine synthase, nopaline synthase, CaMv19S, mannopine synthase. These regulatory sequences can be combined with introns, terminators, enhancers, leader sequences and the like in the material used for transformation.

The isolated DNA is then transformed into the plant. After the transformation of the plant material is complete, the next step is identifying the cells or material, which has been transformed. In some cases, a screenable marker is employed such as the beta-glucuronidase gene of the uidA locus of E. coli. Then, the transformed cells expressing the colored protein are selected. In many cases, a selectable marker identifies the transformed material. The putatively transformed material is exposed to a toxic agent at varying concentrations. The cells not transformed with the selectable marker, which provides resistance to this toxic agent, die. Cells or tissues containing the resistant selectable marker generally proliferate. It has been noted that although selectable markers protect the cells from some of the toxic affects of the herbicide or antibiotic, the cells may still be slightly affected by the toxic agent by having slower growth rates. If the transformed material was cell lines then these lines are regenerated into plants. The cells' lines are treated to induce tissue differentiation. Methods of regeneration of cellular maize material are well known in the art.

A deposit of at least 2500 seeds of this invention will be maintained by Garst Seed Company, 2369 330th Street, Slater, Iowa 50244. Access to this deposit will be available during the pendency of this application to the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks and persons determined by the Commissioner to be entitled thereto upon request. All restrictions on availability to the public of such material will be removed upon issuance of a granted patent of this application by depositing at least 2500 seeds of this invention at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), at 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110. The date of deposit was Oct. 17, 2007. The ATCC number of the deposit is PTA-8712 and on Nov. 2, 2007 the seeds were tested and found to be viable. The deposit of at least 2500 seeds will be from the same inbred seed taken from the deposit maintained by Garst Seed Company. The ATCC deposit will be maintained in that depository, which is a public depository, for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the last request, or for the effective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if it becomes nonviable during that period.

Additional public information on some ZS designations may be available from the PVP Office, a division of the US Government.

Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated, though, that the present invention is defined by the following claims construed in light of the prior art so that modifications or changes may be made to the preferred embodiment of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained herein. 

1. Seed of maize inbred line designated G06-NP2744, representative seed of said line having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-8712.
 2. A maize plant, or a part thereof, produced by growing the seed of claim
 1. 3. The maize plant of claim 2 wherein said plant has been detasseled.
 4. A tissue culture of regenerable cells produced from the plant of claim
 2. 5. Protoplasts produced from the tissue culture of claim
 4. 6. The tissue culture of claim 4, wherein cells of the tissue culture are from a tissue selected from the group consisting of leaf, pollen, embryo, root, root tip, anther, silk, flower, kernel, ear, cob, husk and stalk.
 7. A maize plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 4, said plant having all the morphological and physiological characteristics of inbred line G06-NP2744, representative seed of said line having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-8712.
 8. A method for producing an F1 hybrid maize seed, comprising crossing the plant of claim 2 with a different maize plant and harvesting the resultant F1 hybrid maize seed.
 9. A method of producing a male sterile maize plant comprising transforming the maize plant of claim 2 with a nucleic acid molecule that confers male sterility.
 10. A male sterile maize plant produced by the method of claim
 9. 11. A method of producing an herbicide resistant maize plant comprising transforming the maize plant of claim 2 with a transgene that confers herbicide resistance.
 12. An herbicide resistant maize plant produced by the method of claim
 11. 13. The maize plant of claim 12, wherein the transgene confers resistance to an herbicide selected from the group consisting of: imidazolinone, sulfonylurea, glyphosate, glufosinate, L-phosphinothricin, triazine and benzonitrile.
 14. A method of producing an insect resistant maize plant comprising transforming the maize plant of claim 2 with a transgene that confers insect resistance.
 15. An insect resistant maize plant produced by the method of claim
 14. 16. The maize plant of claim 15, wherein the transgene encodes a Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin.
 17. A method of producing a disease resistant maize plant comprising transforming the maize plant of claim 2 with a transgene that confers disease resistance.
 18. A disease resistant maize plant produced by the method of claim
 17. 19. A method of producing a maize plant with decreased phytate content comprising transforming the maize plant of claim 2 with a transgene encoding phytase.
 20. A maize plant with decreased phytate content produced by the method of claim
 19. 21. A method of producing a maize plant with modified fatty acid metabolism or modified carbohydrate metabolism comprising transforming the maize plant of claim 2 with a transgene encoding a protein selected from the group consisting of stearyl-ACP desaturase, fructosyltransferase, levansucrase, alpha-amylase, invertase and starch branching enzyme.
 22. A maize plant produced by the method of claim
 21. 23. The maize plant of claim 22 wherein the transgene confers a trait selected from the group consisting of waxy starch and increased amylose starch.
 24. A maize plant, or part thereof, having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of the inbred line G06-NP2744, representative seed of said line having been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-8712.
 25. A method of introducing a desired trait into maize inbred line G06-NP2744 comprising: (a) crossing G06-NP2744 plants grown from G06-NP2744 seed, representative seed of which has been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-8712, with plants of another maize line that comprise a desired trait to produce F1 progeny plants, wherein the desired trait is selected from the group consisting of male sterility, herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, amylose starch and waxy starch; (b) selecting F1 progeny plants that have the desired trait to produce selected F1 progeny plants; (c) crossing the selected progeny plants with the G06-NP2744 plants to produce backcross progeny plants; (d) selecting for backcross progeny plants that have the desired trait and physiological and morphological characteristics of maize inbred line G06-NP2744 listed in Table 1 to produce selected backcross progeny plants; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more times in succession to produce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny plants that comprise the desired trait and all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of maize inbred line G06-NP2744 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions.
 26. A plant produced by the method of claim 25, wherein the plant has the desired trait and all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of maize inbred line G06-NP2744 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions.
 27. The plant of claim 26 wherein the desired trait is herbicide resistance and the resistance is conferred to an herbicide selected from the group consisting of: imidazolinone, sulfonylurea, glyphosate, glufosinate, L-phosphinothricin, triazine and benzonitrile.
 28. The plant of claim 26 wherein the desired trait is insect resistance and the insect resistance is conferred by a transgene encoding a Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin.
 29. The plant of claim 26 wherein the desired trait is male sterility and the trait is conferred by a cytoplasmic nucleic acid molecule that confers male sterility.
 30. A method of modifying fatty acid metabolism, modified phytic acid metabolism or modified carbohydrate metabolism into maize inbred line G06-NP2744 comprising: (a) crossing G06-NP2744 plants grown from G06-NP2744 seed, representative seed of which has been deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-8712, with plants of another maize line that comprise a nucleic acid molecule encoding an enzyme selected from the group consisting of phytase, stearyl-ACP desaturase, fructosyltransferase, levansucrase, alpha-amylase, invertase and starch branching enzyme; (b) selecting F1 progeny plants that have said nucleic acid molecule to produce selected F1 progeny plants; (c) crossing the selected progeny plants with the G06-NP2744 plants to produce backcross progeny plants; (d) selecting for backcross progeny plants that have said nucleic acid molecule and physiological and morphological characteristics of maize inbred line G06-NP2744 listed in Table 1 to produce selected backcross progeny plants; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) three or more times in succession to produce selected fourth or higher backcross progeny plants that comprise said nucleic acid molecule and have all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of maize inbred line G06-NP2744 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions.
 31. A plant produced by the method of claim 30, wherein the plant comprises the nucleic acid molecule and has all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of maize inbred line G06-NP2744 listed in Table 1 as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions. 